Vann’s 20 points helps OU women down Auburn

NORMAN — Skylar Vann matched her season high with 20 points and Payton Verhulst hit two free throws with four seconds left and scored 15 to help No. 16 Oklahoma hold off Auburn 73-71 on Monday night at Lloyd Noble Center.

Vann had five points and four assists in the first quarter to help the Sooners (18-6 overall, 6-5 in Southeastern Conference play) jump in front 12-2 before settling for a 21-17 lead. OU took a 44-35 lead into halftime and led 58-48 after three quarters.

DeYona Gaston had a threepoint play and scored the first nine points of the final quarter to get the Tigers (12-12, 3-8) within 58-57 with 8:28 remaining. Vann answered with a three-point play for the Sooners, but Gaston hit a jumper and Mar’shaun Bostic followed with a lay-up to give the Tigers their first lead at 66-65 with 3:30 left.

Verhulst made 1-of-2 at the line to put OU ahead by a point and Gaston made the second of two free throws to tie it at 71 with 24 seconds remaining. Verhulst was fouled with four seconds to go and made two for the victory after Gaston missed the game’s final shot.

Gaston finished with 24 points and Bostic added 16 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Auburn had never played a game in the state of Oklahoma and was looking for its first road win over a ranked SEC team since beating Georgia in 2011. The two schools met just once prior when Auburn beat the visiting Sooners 95-79 in 2018 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.

The Sooners take on Missouri at 1 p.m. Sunday in Columbia, Mo. OU knocked off the Tigers (13-13, 2-9) when they met Jan. 16 in Norman by the score of 80-63.